Last Friday (23rd Dec 2016) the Un Security council (China, France, Russia, the UK, the USA, Angola, Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela) voted on resolution 2334. The Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the adoption of this resolution which states that the, “establishment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, have ‘no legal validity,’ constitute a ‘flagrant violation’ under international law and are a ‘major obstacle’ to a two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.[1]” Over the last week, many nations have waged a war of words. Israel denounced the resolution and all involved including the USA, who’s abstention paved the way to the resolutions passage. The USA, through Secretary of State, John Kerry, knuckled down and stated that this resolution was “necessary” for the “Two-State Solution[2]” to continue. In all of these statements, all parties appear to be taking the “high moral road”, but there is one Person’s opinion that has not been in the news.
What does Adonai, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob say about this? Several weeks ago we read about Jacob’s dream, and Adonai’s corresponding promise. So while Jacob was standing on the mountains of Judea and Samaria (Genesis 28:14) Adonai states, “Your seed will be as the dust of the land, and you will burst forth to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed—and in your seed.[3]” This promise, Adonai fulfilled through Joshua. At the end of his life, Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and prophesied on behalf of Adonai saying, “I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities that you had not built and you have settled in them, vineyards and olive groves that you had not planted, that you are eating.” (Josh. 24:13) But even Joshua knows that the Children of Israel will be driven out of their land because of the prophesy of Moses. In (Deut. 28 – 30) Moses lays out the blessings and the curses of the covenant, and then states in [Deut. 30:1-6] that after the blessings and curses have happened then He will bring them back to the Land of Israel from which they had been expelled.
Many prophets talk of this regathering. Jeremiah says that “He who scattered Israel will gather and watch over him, as a shepherd does his flock.” (Jer. 31:9b) Ezekiel spoke on Adonai’s behalf saying, “‘For I will take you from the nations, gather you out of all the countries and bring you back to your own land.” (Eze. 36:24) And while there was a partial fulfilment of these prophesies after the proclamation of King Cyrus of Persia, it was never to the extent that the Prophets envisaged. For instance the rest of Ezekiel 36 is never fully completed. For this reason we see that what Adonai is doing right now, in drawing the descendants of Israel back to the land that He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is a fulfilment of these prophesies. Since this is from Adonai and “it is marvellous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:23) what can mankind do against it? Well let’s turn to another prophet, Joel. After proclaiming the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh on all flesh, just like the prophesy in Eze 36, he goes on to talk of a time in the end that Adonai would restore Judah and Jerusalem. [Ch 4, (3)] From this we see that the nations are seeking to: 1) Scatter Israel back among the nations, 2) Divide up the land, 3) Sell Israel back into slavery, 4) They think that it is retribution. In response the L-rd calls the nations down to the valley of Jehoshaphat (judgement) for war.
At the same time Adonai will protect Israel. Yeshua refers to this passage in Matt. 25:31-46, and states that He, the Son of Man, will sit and judge the nations, separating them as one separates the sheep and the goats, based upon their treatment of his “brethren,” just as Joel had prophesied would happen. Yeshua is the Good Shepherd that was prophesied in Ezekiel 34, [John 10:11-18]. He is coming to separate and judge between “the fat sheep and the lean sheep” (Eze. 34:20) and the “sheep and the goats” (Matt. 25:31).
So what is this leading to? What is next according to Biblical Prophecy? Just prior to the coming of Messiah, and prior to the nations coming together to make war against Israel, a final world empire of 10 nations will rise. This is spoken of by the prophet Daniel (7:7-28) and by Yeshua to John in (Rev. 13 & 17). This empire will be led by the False-Messiah (Antichrist), and supported by the False-Prophet. And while we do not know exactly how it will all work together (I am sure everyone else can tell me their version), we do know that this empire will be filled with slander against the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
As for what we are to do now, now is the time of rededication (Hanukkah), now is the time to have our lives dedicated to Adonai and to His Messiah, “the Lamb who was slain.” If we are not submitted to the Lordship of Yeshua, we will find that we concede to the pressure of this coming empire, and will end up denying Adonai. (Rev 13:8) states that, “All who dwell on the earth shall worship [the false messiah]—everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain.”
We will close by reading Psalm 2 together, but before we do I wish to read a portion of Avner Boskey’s post from the 28th of Dec.
“Psalm 2 describes a dynamic in history that is coming to a high point in our day. The nations are in an uproar over the Jewish people and over their capital city Zion (2:1). They ‘rage against the machine’ – they gnash their teeth at God’s strategy in choosing Jerusalem …. Their fury moves them to actually hold meetings in council – to take counsel together, to take up positions, make decisions and plan actions – political, economic and military – against the restoration and survival of the Jewish people and their state (2:2): “The earth’s kings are taking positions, leaders taking counsel together against YHVH and His Messiah. They cry, ‘Let’s tear their chains apart! Let’s throw off their binding ropes!’” The Psalmist reveals that international hatred of the God of Israel manifests itself in hatred against the Jewish people and their land – anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. As one wag said years ago, “Anti-Christ is anti-Jew.” (Psalm 83:1-5). The need of the moment is clarity regarding international strategies against Jerusalem – the machinations which are moving the world into full-blown rebellion against the God of Israel and against His treasured Jewish people.[4]”
[Read Psalm 2][1] UN chief welcomes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements as ‘significant step’, Cited 30-Dec 2016. Online: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55874
[2] Fox 10 Phoenix, John Kerry Speaks on 2-State Solution for Peace in the Middle East – FULL SPEECH, Cited 30-Dec 2016. Online: https://youtu.be/UVKyj7wI_oY
[3] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the Tree Of Life Version (TLV), 2014.
[4] Avner Boskey, The kings of the earth are taking their positions, Cited 30-Dec 2016. Online: http://davidstent.com/the-kings-of-the-earth-are-taking-their-positions/